Finders Keepers?

Having blessed Peter's confession that he is the Christ, Jesus begins to address a deficiency in the understanding of the disciples. Messiah would have to suffer, be killed, and be raised. The way of man is to avoid self-denial but not the way of God. In fact not only must Messiah suffer, so must his followers. if anyone would come after Jesus, he must deny himself and take up his cross. he who loses his life for the sake of Christ will ultimately find it.